Scottish wildcat nicknamed the 'beast' may be largest ever seen

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An "enormous" wildcat that could be the largest specimen recorded anywhere in the world has been caught on camera in Aberdeenshire.

It was recorded by a camera trap in Clashindarroch Forest and is estimated to measure 4ft from nose to tail, making it around one foot larger than an average Scottish wildcat.

The footage was caught as part of a conservation project run by Wildcat Haven, which puts out food to attract animals to hidden camera sites. The large predator has since been nicknamed the “Clashindarroch Beast”.

Kev Bell, a field worker for the organisation, said: "I've been fortunate to get footage of quite a few of these ghost cats; there's about 10 to 15 of them here in the Clashindarroch. I couldn't believe my eyes when I first saw this cat, he is enormous, a magnificent animal.”

"The cameras give us amazing insight to this priceless group of wildcats which have somehow survived here and avoided hybridisation.

Paul O'Donoghue said he had never seen anything like itCredit:
Wildcat Haven

"Some people say that the wildcat doesn't exist anymore but we know different and wildcats like 'The Beast' prove it."

Steve Sleigh, another fieldworker with Wildcat Haven, added: "These cats are a vital part of Scotland's wild nature and ecology, and they must be protected wherever they live; they are one of the rarest animals in the world.”

The project involves the neutering of all feral and domestic cats across more than 1,000 square miles of the Highlands to prevent inter-breeding with wildcats.

A Scottish wildcat in the Cairngorms National ParkCredit:
Barcroft Media

Fears have been expressed previously that there may be no genetically pure wildcats left in Scotland but Dr Paul O'Donoghue, chief scientific adviser on the project, said they believe there is a population of around 13 pure wildcats in the area.

He said the large cat caught on camera was in excellent condition and he had never seen anything approaching its size in the past.

The organisation is also monitoring wildcat populations in Caithness and Lochaber.